Unique cycle built by teen to combat pollution

It looks like a motorcycle that has been in a nasty accident, but the teenage inventor of this electric bike believes it is the answer to urban traffic chaos and pollution.

Photo: Motorcycle Mojo

1:05AM BST 30 Apr 2008

Although it resembles a unicycle, the Uno has two wheels side by side and uses gyroscopic technology to stay upright.

Ben Gulak, 18, spent several years building the machine. The rider leans forward to accelerate to speeds of 25mph, and backwards to slow down.

Mr Gulak, from Canada, said: "I was inspired to make the bike after visiting China a few years ago and seeing all the smog. They all drive little bikes that are really polluting and I wanted to make something to combat that."

Weighing 120lb, the bike is light enough to be taken indoors to be charged up, and runs for 2.5 hours.